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Archiologists just found a human jaw bone that traces the birth of humans back 400,000 years! What do you know-it-all evolutionists think of that? —Faithful creationist
This article appears in Mar 5-11, 2015.
94 Comments
And you worship an invisible old white bearded dude in the clouds who is bipolar (at best) to his followers.
You keep right on believing that, mate. I’ll look for your empty suit after the Rapture.
And I once saw a documentary series that proved early man lived alongside dinosaurs, used them as household appliances and had invented the wheel, the telephone, the drive-in theatre, annoying mothers-in-law AND the most kickass looking BBQ Ribs.
Creationism – Yabba-Dabba-Don’t
OMG! You two are going to Hell! I’m telling Jesus!
I recently found a mouldy green/blue block of cheese in the back of the fridge. By the look of things it dates back about 3.5 million years so now we have proof that cheese makers have been around for at least that long. I will pass my finding along to the appropriate scientific body for further study,
I think not, Hing Frogg.
http://img.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/raptorjesus-on-muhammed-raptor.jpg
I’ve got all my ecclesiatical bases covered.
Was it Gawds jawbone? Correct me if I’m wrong but, don’t you religious nut jobs believe that the earth is only 6000 years old? So, believing that a 300,000 year old jawbone proves creationism makes you a fucking retard.
400,000 years ago? Would you have a date for that?
Actually, the jawbone in question is 2.8 million years old (which is 400,000 years older than the oldest previously found specimen) and not merely 400,000 years old as the OB stated. This error in comprehension might provide a hint as to the intellectual capacity of the average creationist.
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/mar/04/jaw-bone-discovery-in-ethiopia-is-oldest-ever-human-lineage-remains
I was at a cafe once when a shockingly large couple came in. I would guess the woman weighed 300 and the man closer to 400 lbs. They lacked the strength to ease their burdens onto the chairs and, instead, literally fell backwards into them. I couldn’t help but wonder if they actually were able to have sex but, if they did, it would give new meaning to the expression “The BIg Bang”.
Oh,oh. There’s a knock on the door. I think the political correctness police are here for me…
As a guy who sees evolution as the best way thus far to explain shit… I give that a thumbs up, still does a better job than any other cracked out theory out there.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a creationist use this to shoot themselves in the foot. Ignoring the fact that this further disproves the creationist theory, and strengthens the theory of evolution, lets talk about science.
You see, science has this wonderful ability to accept new facts. When we learn something that disproves a theory or invalidates a hypothesis, that’s ok. That new information is considered and new hypotheses are formed and tested. And ALL of the concrete information we have disproves creationism. All you have is one book to back your garbage explanation. But your too dense to get that.
https://betteroffdamned.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/star-trek.jpg
Given the fact that the Earth is several billion years old, a difference of 400,000 years really isn’t that large. It’s not insignificant but it’s not enough to ‘disprove’ evolution.
The earth is not billions of years old. Who says the way they estimate the age of our planet is accurate? Carbon dating or the like, is like everything else man thinks up, flawed! How anyone can think we came out of the ocean, sprouted legs and feet, turned into monkeys then into man is gullible. There is more to life than you idiots know.
Yours truly.
Check out Job 40:15-24, and Job all of chapter 41. Read it and weep. God himself talks to Job about His mighty beasts. We were on the earth when the dinosaurs walked the earth.
Yours truly.
So dragons did exist.
Yours truly.
I’ll be raising a glass of 2 Horsies to The Klydester this evening, for calling this one right on the money.
LOLZ…What goes up eventually comes down……… it was only a matter of time.
When you consider that nowhere in the New Testament, does it explicitly state that Jesus wasn’t a Velociraptor…..
@Klyde – no it doesn’t, gravity is only a theory man!
Wheels I can only assume you’re the OB. You see, I don’t walk into Sunday School (I was raised catholic, thus attended for many years) and start calling bullshit on the teacher. Nor do I do this in a church, nor will I if someone openly expresses their beliefs to me. However, if you start calling BS on what I believe (effectively attacking my “religion”) and opening up the debate, I’m going to defend, which will include attacking your beliefs.
You’re only basis of “fact” is a few books that were written 1000s of years ago, by man. If you watch Bill Nye debate the creationist guy who made that museum in Australia, he reiterates this over and over again, he unwaveringly accepts the bible as fact. It is your only leg to stand on.
And the thing is, we as humans have learned a lot since then. You will accept a lot of that as true (world is round, earth goes around the sun, etc.). Your picking and choosing which things to believe that the scientific method has proven as right.
Here is pretty much every organism on the planet: Hole where stuff goes in – Tube – Hole where stuff goes out. Is it really so hard to see how similar we are to fish? We all have cells, DNA, and are made up of pretty much the same thing. There’s no pixie dust here. Just billions of years of iterations on the same thing.
The universe is large enough for mechanics and poetry, science and myth, reason and wonder.
The danger lies in blurring the boundaries.
Fake bitch. No one above the age of 5 still believes in creationism/god/fairy tales!
An empty Church is a happy Church, OP.
http://www.quickmeme.com/img/a8/a81bde8592…
‘…Check out Job 40:15-24, and Job all of chapter 41…’
I don’t read fiction.
And here comes Jesus…
“There are trees older than you think the world is”
-Bill Nye the science guy to Ken Hamm in the creationist vs evolution debate.
You should watch that debate on the youtube! Tis a gooooooood watch.
Also wheels, dragons DO exist today and not in some crazy fantasy way. They are called komodo dragons and they live in Indonesia, this has been well known for quite sometime. Or maybe evolutionists made that up to put creationists to shame!
….. and then there’s this view on where people came from….the future!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76RWWl01JMc
“Post hoc ergo propter hoc.” I hope everyone here gets that. If you have to look it up, you fail.
… and then there’s our favourite saying in grade 8 Latin class: “Ubi est tua sub ubi?”
The one thing I remember from Rollie Marshall’s Philosophy 203 at SMU in the 1970s.
So, Wheels, is Jesus your co-pilot when you be bus drivin? Does he help with counting fares and handing out transfers?
Um…don’t creationists believe the earth was created like 6,000 years ago? Wanna check your math again?
The thing I love about this site is how we can criticize all religions equally for being backward, bigoted, stupid and brutal.
Oh, wait.
No, we can’t.
It is further proof that the biblical account of creation, while poetic and beautifully “truthful”, is not LITERALLY true–it is not a moment by moment technical account of historical events. The actual age of the earth, as indicated by both the geological record and the fossil record, is known to be in the billions of years, not in the 5-6 thousand range.
As an angel , I disapprove of fundamentalism, as it is a form of ideology crushing to the imagination and the human spirit. Human beings are not unquestioning robots, they should seek both the poetry in the vast wonders of the world AND the detailed scientific knowledge of how it is put together (even when that means that finding out that the ancients didn’t know everything that we know about today–like the existence of oxygen, gravity, DNA, the atom, electricity, other planets, and yes, the age of the Earth.)
Reading a spiritual text in a literal manner is like reading Aesop’s Fables and trying to determine the exact species of the fox that turned down the sour grapes, and what language he actually spoke in when he talked to the crow (if indeed animals talk to each other about such things)–the literal interpretation kills the beauty AND the point of the story!
“How anyone can think we came out of the ocean, sprouted legs and feet, turned into monkeys then into man is gullible.”
Ok then, if it wasn’t that, what was it? Enlighten us.
Evolution simplified:
1) Every living organism (including the OP) has, in every single one of its cells, a copy of its genetic code stored in long molecules of DNA.
2) This genetic code is universal. Every living thing on this planet used the same genetic material–that’s what makes “genetic modification” and “transgenic organisms” possible. There have been no life forms found on Earth (yet) that use a different material for inheritance.
3) All forms of life reproduce by passing along their DNA (and here is the key) WITH VARIATIONS to the next generation. Even tiny organisms that produce asexually have methods for introducing genetic variation into the subsequent generations. No living creature in nature –even an “identical” twin– is a clone of a parent or a sibling. “Reproduction with variation” is the very definition of evolution.
4) Successful genetic traits survive and are passed on offspring; unsuccessful ones are not. Over BILLIONS of years, variations are introduced into populations, and speciation occurs, with species evolving new traits that help them ADAPT to different conditions.
5) Over billions of years, some aquatic species become increasingly adapted to dry land. And yes, some small ape-like creatures became less and less hairy, increasingly dextrous, and bigger-brained over subsequent generations and also developed the ability to stand upright, control fire, make tools, use language, and over many, many, many, MANY generations (thousands of years) became the species we are today (“Homo sapiens”– “wise man” or “thinking man”).
By the way, plant and animal breeding is based on this fact. In the span of a few thousand years, humans have bred the common wolf into every possible variation of dog that we know today. Horses and other farm animals have also been bred to increase desired traits, and reduce undesired traits.
And one more thing: To this date, no human-like fossil has EVER (YET) been found at the geological layers where dinosaur fossils are found. All known evidence indicates that the dinosaurs died out millions of years before humans ever appeared. Finding evidence of human remains a few thousand years older than we thought is NOTHING compared to millions of years.
*IF* human fossils are ever found at the geological layers formed when the dinosaurs lived, then obviously scientists (and the rest of us) will update our knowledge in light of any new information because that’s what science IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
NONE of this should be offensive to any thinking person in the world, regardless of their religious inclinations. Many great minds in scientific inquiry have also been, and are today, practitioners of their respective Christian/Jewish/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist religious heritage.
Non-avian dinosaurs died out around 65 million years ago. At that part time and before mammals were, for the most part, small burrowing creatures assigned to the bottom of the terrestrial food chain. There were no apex mammals such as lions, wolves, dolphins, kangaroos or elephants never mind humans.
Humans did and do walk alongside avian dinosaurs. I see all kinds of them at my feeder every day. Whether it be starlings, jays, woodpeckers or what have you, they all have a little therapod genetics in them. BTW some scientists are trying to reverse engineer an emu into a dinosaur. If that were me, I’d work with a hummingbird just in case it works.
There is no god; so live your lives and enjoy youselves. The Soup is on…!
hummingbird? oh gawd crisp. the teeth and instincts of a velociraptor plus flight and speed?
and as whatshisname said, it doesn’t specifically say in the bible that jesus WASN’T a velociraptor.
RSVP
Babyshambles (03/13, 4:32PM)
Since the proper rendering is, “Ubi, ubi est MEA sububi?” (“Where oh where is MY underwear?”) you could not have correctly remembered it from Rollie Marshall’s Philosophy 203 class at SMU in the 1970’s as you claim.
Interestingly, I also remember it from Philosophy class at SMU, not from Rollie Marshall (whoever he might be) but, perhaps surprisingly, from Rev. M.J. Belair, SJ, the Vice-President of SMU at the time who was as smart as a whip. Speaking of SMU, I appear in the current edition of “Maroon & White,” the alumni magazine. Do you get it?
RSVP
Angel of the Tarsands (6:20PM & 6:55PM)
A literal interpretation just doesn’t kill the beauty and point of spiritual texts. It kills the possibility of ANY meaning ANY text might have which cannot be reduced to oxygen, atoms, DNA and so on. It’s like trying to appreciate “Macbeth” by an examination of Shakespeare’s neurological synapses. But the meaning of Macbeth does not lie at that level and to suppose that it does is to destroy its human significance. Other words, human beings do not live at the level of oxygen, atoms, DNA and so on. To suppose that they do is to be a “true believer” in scientism. Man is just a matter of, um, matter-in-motion.
Also, one needn’t have “religious inclinations” to dismiss the fossil record supporting evolution as just that, a meaningless fossil record.
MM, our OB is not capable of that level of understanding — yet. (Also, contrary to what you might think, I do not advocate that scientific research be viewed uncritically, or as simply a different kind of fundamentalist or ideological “belief.”)
OB is at a stage where he is afraid to use his mind and five senses to understand basic physical facts of biological life (the cell, DNA, the inheritance of traits) as he fears that doing so contradicts the tenets of his religious belief, and could possibly condemn himself to eternal hellfire.
I think OB needs to understand that acknowledging facts about the world that were not known in ancient times does not negate the moral framework of his faith–if it did, it would be a puny and fragile faith indeed.
OB should have the courage to look at current knowledge about the functioning of the natural world, and then he will be able to move on to more subtle explorations of the nature of reality–that humans are much more than just their cells and DNA, that MacBeth is much more than ink on a page,etc. Lots of people get that, but our OB is nowhere near ready for that yet.
“whatshisname” ?????????
Speaking of life and death, 20 years ago we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Steve Jobs. Now we have no Cash, no Hope and no Jobs. Please don’t let Kevin Bacon die!
kevin’s heading for tabor, alberta. rednecks gonna get him
mm said: “Speaking of SMU, I appear in the current edition of “Maroon & White,” the alumni magazine. “
Is that you in the back pocket? If so, your hair is getting a bit grey but that’s quite a nice vest you are wearing: http://maroonandwhite.ca/issues/fall2014/
Dear Mr. Montrealman: rest assured, I was one of (Rowland) Rollie Marshall’s students in Introductory Philosophy in 1973. I have the transcript of my marks and instructors to prove it. My brother also took Mr. Marshall’s course a few years prior.
Prove me wrong. Simple as that, Mr. Montrealman.
So all of you like Angel here, were there 60 million years or so ago to see this all happen. OK. Your beards must be longer than God`s.
Yours truly.
How can my beard be longer than a fictional character made up by man to control man?
You’re a bus driver who hates people yet you profess to be a Christian? This is why all religions should be taken behind a shed and shot. Especially fundamentalist Christianity. Those people are bonkers.
And no I did not write the bitch. I am not the only one who believes in God and creation you see. There are quite a few of us who believe the truth of our spiritual selves and world. A book that was written thousands of years ago by inspiration of God Himself,vs man who thought up all this crap because he does not want to admit he is lost and in need of a savior. Like I said, hold on folks we`re in for a bumpy ride.
Yours truly.
Who said I hate people. I never said any such thing. It`s you people who say these things about me. You are all in denial (and that is a looooooong river) about your spiritual condition, and are afraid to think of it as being true. The only thing I hate about people is their stupidity and believe me, I have noticed a sharp increase in rudeness, entitlement, stupidity, emptyheads, nastiness and hate in our world in the last few years. Don`t think for me and say I hate people because you could not be more wrong. I love mankind, I just hate what we have become. Try driving a bus for 3 or 10 years. I think you may change your mind about me. But really I don`t give a rats ass about what you people think of me. I know who I am. Do you know who you are.
Yours truly.
‘An empty bus is a happy bus’. Yes sir, I loves peoples!
Go chase after your imaginary deity, my good man, it’s no sweat off our agnostic asses.
” I have noticed a sharp increase in rudeness, entitlement, stupidity, emptyheads, nastiness and hate in our world in the last few years. “
Wheels, those are the people in society, according to those who preach his word, that need the most help and spiritual guidance. I see your union attitude has crept into your personal life and your duty as good Christian falls under the category of “not in my job description”. In the true style and grace of a “Christian”: hypocrisy, judgment and ignorance pretty much sum up those who use their “faith” as a weapon of moral superiority.
Have you ever rode on my bus, have you ever watched me interact with the public, helped little old ladies on or off the bus. I would put the correct punctuation there but for some reason my question mark is not working. No because you don`t know who I am. You just judge me by the truth of my words. People are nasty, rude, aggressive, mean, insulting, with a good measure of self entitlement to most other human beings but even more so toward bus drivers. Don`t believe me, try it yourself. Get hired, and last for a few years if you can and then I can guaranfuckingtee you, you will have a different opinion of bus drivers and the ahem people we serve. All I ever hear when I throw that one out is scratching of dirt, pecking sounds, and clucking.
Yours truly.
Wheels, I highly doubt you were present at creation yourself.
Perhaps all mysteries shall all be revealed up yonder, hmm?
http://www.quickmeme.com/img/50/502302f1f0…
RSVPS
: Angel of the Tarsands (03/14, 9:57AM)
Since the ordinary man can never but view scientific research uncritically, to the extent that he supports its uncritical efficacy he necessarily propounds a different kind of fundamentalist or ideological belief. It’s called “scientism.” It echoes the Greek philosopher Democritus who famously claimed that reality consists of nothing but “atoms and the void.” Of course, Democritus contradicted himself. His utterance was not to be understood as just another instance of meaningless atoms and the void. It was to be understood rather as the TRUTH, the very thing his philosophical principles precluded him from attaining. The consistent nihilist, one must remember, should say nothing. He should simply turn his face to the wall.
: Egghead (11:08AM)
No, that’s not me in the back pocket of the jeans on the cover of “Maroon & White.” I’m inside. I know it’s tiresome but you must open the magazine up.
: Babyshambles (11:21AM)
I was not questioning your attendance at SMU but rather your agreement with Egghead who misquoted “Ubi ubi est mea sububi.” Speak to Egghead.
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
I don’t claim that science has all the answers. The scientific method is just a better means of understanding the TRUTH of our surroundings. An ancient book full of giants, wizards and talking snakes is a better means of entertainment but should not be assigned any credibility as being truthful. It certainly should not be worshiped in a cult-like fashion. Why? Because it’s dangerous. Though, of course, science can be dangerous as well (ie the Atomic Bomb). If the truth is unimportant to you and you would rather blindly believe in nonsensical fairy tales, then go ahead – but I will think you are an idiot. (And yes, MM, I am aware that you don’t care what I think of you and that I don’t care, etc.)
But you don’t have to limit yourself to scientific observation – there’s plenty of room for other things that are neither religious nor scientific. Art, Philosophy, Literature, Music – these are all things that give life to the human ‘spirit’ which can exist independently of religion or science.
Most religious people in this part of the world aren’t actively hurting anyone (aside from gay bashers and anti-abortionists attempting to infringe on peoples rights on the basis of their beliefs) but every now and then you bump into one like Wheels here, who makes them all look like a flock of blubbering morons.
God’s bush must be way long. Like super puffy and voluminous. What do you think, Wheels? About God’s pubes, I mean.
RSVPS
:M2A (03/13, 1.03PM)
That comment i made was in the context of a metaphor and a joke amongst friends, not that gravity doesn’t exist, as we all know, if you jump, you’d better land on your feet or a trip to the hospital might be in order.
:Wheels (11.55AM, 6.30PM)
So what you’re really trying to tell us folks is that if we mistakenly get on your bus, we are in for a bumpy ride. It will be a cold day in h^ll for me to ever be a passenger on your bus, or any bus for that matter. Saw a video the other night of a bus sliding nicely down a hill and pictured you driving, the bus might have been happy but i wouldn’t want to bet the farm that your passengers were too happy.
Please let us know the day you retire so that the citizenry of this city can feel safe to be on a bus knowing you won’t be driving and trying to give them divine intervention to save them. Ever consider driving a bus for a certain church in Slackville, You’d be in good company and be very happy.
Time for coffee, I’ve vented enough.
I find it ironic that you would call me ignorant and then go on to talk about how sheeps and goats are going to be judged by a wizard and then burned by the devil and demons in a lake of fire. As if you actually believe that. LOL
So sheep are beleibers and goats non-beleibers? Show me the evidence. Baaaah I say.
BTW Wheels, if the apostrophe starts to awry just right-click on the keyboard icon and select “US”. You’re probably set on French. A little advice from on old goat.
The Rock Church, Klyde, where you leave all logic at the door? Odds bodkins!
God is not a wizard Ho!$t, and you can tell the Devil you don`t believe in him or hell when you get there, ok
Yours truly.
Everyone who scoffs at the thought of God existing and mocking Him are in danger of hell fire. It is ok if you do not believe this as you will have no choice but to believe it once you are there. It will be like Hotel California, where you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. And there will be no mirrors on the ceilings or pink champagne on ice, but there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Bumpy ride ahead.
Yours truly.
It looks like our educational system has failed some people – especially when it comes to science, logic and critical thinking.
Telling an atheist that he’s bound for the hellfire is like telling a christer he’s going to Mordor.
So many blissful people out there…
Yours truly
RSVPS
Ho!$t (0/14, 3:45PM)
“The scientific method is just a better means of understanding the TRUTH of our surroundings.”
The category of “TRUTH” does not apply to the scientific method unless, that is, you reduce such “TRUTH” to simply a matter of what physically exists which, sadly, appears to be what you have done. However, the category of TRUTH (note the absence of quotation marks) is properly to be understood not as a matter of quantities, of mere physical extension, but rather of qualities apparent only to the reflective human mind. Put differently, TRUTH is not a matter of simple “facts on the ground” but rather of evaluative qualitative assessment. To speak of the “Truth” of our surroundings is therefore incoherent.
Egghead (10:50PM)
I couldn’t agree more about the failure of our educational system if you are to be taken as a shining product of its efforts. However, in reducing critical thinking to its exercise in science and logic, you have failed your own critical thinking test. The reason for this is that you have failed to provide reasons – not just further assertions – in support of your reduction. Such reasons, of course, are the hallmark of any exercise in critical thinking. In effect, we are faced with an epistemological cartoon, the demand for critical thinking by one who has failed to think critically. Put differently, your demand for a reduced conception of critical thinking is incoherent.
A pleasure s always,
Cheerio!
Check out Matthew25:31-46. No one will escape from Him when that day has finally arrived. Everyone will stand before the Judgment seat of Christ and you will be powerless to say a damn word. Hold on bumpy ride ahead.
Yours truly
Check out the end of Watership Down, when the Black Rabbit of Inle invites Hazel to join his owsla
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMvGUCTpCIY
Who do you think is the more compassionate and wise?
Check out Seuss Page 16, Book of Go Dog Go-seriously, check it out, bros!
“I really like that hat!”
If I were you, MM, I wouldn’t be too hard on the educational system. After all, with you being an educator, it’s failure is your failure too.
And that goes for you too MOD, whoever you are. Why are you censoring my comments. If the Bible is fiction then what`s the big deal. Most of what goes on here is fictional most of the time. Are you also afraid of the truth, have you ever felt the power of the Holy Spirit in your life but you don`t want to admit to it. The evidence of the existence of God is all around us. Wrap your head around this one, romans chapt two verse twenty and if you are brave you can read down to the end of the fictional chapter. Bumpy ride a coming.
Yours truly.
I guess your too busy proofreading all this wonderful fiction to be reading anything that is more fact than any other book out there. Tisk, tisk, what a shame. Did you read the passage, did you see yourself there. I did, a long time ago. We Christians are just like everyone else, not perfect. The one thing that separates us from the rest of mankind is our faith in the One that created the Universe, the power of His Holy Spirit in our lives, and our faith in Christ`s work on the cross for me and everyone who has ever, or will ever live. God is not an evil God, He is a righteous God, a loving, forgiving God. The message of the cross has always been foolishness to the perishing. Hold on folks, you know what`s coming.
Yours truly.
RSVP
Stephen “Hot Blow” Harper (03/15, 9:50AM)
“After all, with you being an educator, it’s (sic) failure is your failure too.”
A false generalization. One can never argue from particular cases to general conclusions,
the sort of thing I would have taught in my introduction to critical thinking. In other words, its just another example of incoherence, a conceptual plague which abounds on this site.
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
My apologies Mod I just saw my comments. I guess it does take a while to filter out all the no-no`s in this wonderful outlet.
Yours truly.
‘…Check out Matthew25:31-46. No one will escape from Him when that day has finally arrived. Everyone will stand before the Judgment seat of Christ and you will be powerless to say a damn word. Hold on bumpy ride ahead…’
I read that missive to my partner. We then looked at each other and collapsed into helpless laughter.
Did you know crucifixes make great back and ass scratchers?
There are many reasons to not take biblical writings as literal transmissions of truth. Here are a couple:
First of all, even if it were originally provided to us by some deity, the bible was originally written in ancient Hebrew. By the third century, the Old Testament books originally written in Hebrew were translated into Greek, and by the fifth century, the entire Bible was translated into Latin. As centuries progressed, the Bible was translated into dozens of languages, including English. All of the English translations are really just man’s interpretations, and there are over 400 biblical words known as hapax legomena, whose English translation we don’t know. The English you read is a best guess at fourth or fifth hand translations of the original text so do you want to take that literally?
Secondly, if you were to take one part of the bible literally then you would have to take it all literally. You can’t pick and choose. According to Deuteronomy 21:
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones.”
So, if you take the bible as a literal document, are you really in favour of public stoning?
The late great comedian, George Carlin, said it best:
‘Religion has actually convinced people that there’s an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever ’til the end of time!
But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He’s all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can’t handle money!’
Speaking of Big Bang bullshit, the big bang may not have been the beginning.
http://phys.org/news/2015-02-big-quantum-e…
The idea that something infinite doesn’t have a start would seem to be a “well duh” moment.
Brilliant, Mr. Yeager. A tip of the trilby to you.
I noticed a post earlier in support of Bill C-51. I haven’t read enough to make an informed comment on it but the post in question suggested that it would be a useful counter-terrorism tool.
That may be true, in some cases, but I have to say that my bigger concern is with self-styled, lone wolf terrorists who are acting on their own. And, those lone wolfs are likely to be Canadian-born people of christian heritage who are suffering from delusions and perceived grudges brought on by a mental illness such as schizophrenia. No government security bill is going to help us there. Better mental health service might!
Mostly facetious on my part, Sir Eggy. I have faith that Bill C-51 will keep us every bit as safe as the Liberal long gun registry did. And that was only an infringement of the privacy rights of a relatively small group of people.
I have my own views about the war that has been declared on Western Civilization, as well as the so-called War on Privacy. In both cases, governments are playing catchup. As far as the concept of privacy is concerned, we have seen one of those periodic paradigm shifts in human development where technology has outstripped social development. We as humans will need to rethink such concepts as privacy, now that most people are equipped with a handheld link to a global information network. The revolution has occurred and most people missed it because they were too busy instagramming. The current government makes an effective bogeyman because they are deemed repellent (and frequently live up to that characterization), but it really makes little difference. We’ve seen that it doesn’t take the likes of C.S.I.S. to hold people responsible for private remarks made on social media. We seem to be headed for a society where the rule of thumb is “If you don’t want to be punished for your thoughts, keep them to yourself” – Something a Muscovite or Berliner in the late 30’s would have been very familiar with.
Sorry for invoking Godwin’s Law. As I’ve said here before I seem to suffer from either a lack of faith in the human species or an excess of it.
“POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC”
“Post hoc ergo propter hoc. I hope everyone here gets that. If you have to look it up, you fail.” (Montrealman 03/13, 2:45PM)
On reflection – it’s just the kind of guy I am – I thought I would give the unlettered a helping hand with that bit of Latin. It’s usually rendered as, “After which therefore because of which.” It’s a logical fallacy which asserts that there exists a necessary causal relationship between something which came before and something else which came after. It applies in the present case which pits the proponents of creationism – well, one anyway – versus evolution, the biblical account of the creation of “homo sapiens” against his evolution through natural selection from proto-human origins.
It all turns on how one is to define “homo sapiens.” In the case of the creationists “homo sapiens” appeared fully-blown in the form of Adam and Eve as created by an omnipotent God. For the creationists it is a doctrinal belief based on the Bible. For the evolutionists, on the other hand, “homo sapiens” necessarily emerged from the natural forces of chemistry and physics progressively operating on the initial primeval muck and they ridicule the creationists as superstitious fools. For them it is all a matter of “post hoc ergo propter hoc” without any divine intervention. However, it is equally a doctrinal belief but in this case one based on scientism, the unshakeable belief in the correctness of scientific explanation for everything. It might be correct as far as it goes but does it go far enough?
In my view it doesn’t. Why? Because “homo sapiens” is not reducible to his physical attributes, the province of science. In other words, “homo sapiens” cannot be wholly explained in scientific terms. Science might account for he failure of the organism but it cannot account for its success. It can account for the physical causes leading to Shakespeare’s death but it cannot account for his successes, i.e. “MacBeth.” In fact even this comment itself is inexplicable in scientific terms. Its meaning lies beyond the range of scientific explanation.
The consequence is that those who commit to scientism, to a wholly scientific “explanation”
of man, to a doctrinal “post hoc ergo propter hoc,” necessarily also commit to a metaphysical nihilism, the very rejection of their status as “homo sapiens.” As such, they can assert nothing without contradiction, i.e., assuming that status which their principles preclude.
This is not to be understood as an endorsement of creationism but simply as a rejection of scientism, the doctrinal belief in the utter efficacy of science as an explanation of “homo sapiens.” Man is more than his physical attributes.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
Chuck,
I agree that we will all need to rethink our concepts of privacy. The low cost of security cameras has led to an explosion in their growth. Every time we step out of our homes we are captured on camera many times. The police want to and do use this more and more for criminal investigation. In principle, I’m fine with this but I fear that the technology could be used for malicious purposes by persons having access to all of the captured footage – stalking an ex-partner or keeping an eye on someone they have a grievance against, for example. Hopefully, appropriate safeguards will be put in place.
With regards to firearms, there was an incident back in my mis-spent youth where I was confronted in a pool hall by a drunken idiot with a 410 shotgun in his hands. Luckily he was looking for my friend (who was elsewhere) – rather than me. The fellow later shot himself after the police showed up. My point is that it’s difficult to keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally unstable so anything that discourages private gun ownership is fine with me.
I understand your perspective. What I see is that in the fall of last year, 2 members of what I consider to be “my community” were deliberately targeted for death because of who they were. In one case the murder weapon was a firearm, in the other, an automobile. And yes, both perpetrators were mentally ill people attracted to the most negative aspects of an ideology. For me, it is the ideology that is the threat, not the access to weapons. But, an idea is far more difficult to combat than a weapon, or even an army. So, I really see no solution that protects Canadian citizens. And I fear, when I hear the slogans and see the banners and faces of those who regularly turn out for “Days of Action”, that I have no confidence in their ability to recognize the threat. In fact, for all their warbling about “rights” I have less than no confidence in their capacity or even desire to protect mine.
Not an endorsement of our current government or it’s policies, by the way.
More of a cri de coeur about where we are and where we are going.
Yes Wheels, there are many people who agree with you. There are many people who follow the Quran, and whatever other holy books are out there. Many are just as devout as you.
And yes, there are many shitty people in the world. I have ridden many a bus, but that isn’t even necessary to draw this conclusion. Luckily, there are also many good people, like you claim to be (which I believe you to be). There are goods to religion, generally good morals and such, but there are also bads (impeding progress, sexism, etc.). And not all religious people are good, some kill, some are sexual predators and many are just pricks. I don’t believe faith or lack there of makes a person good or bad. It’s our actions towards fellow human beings that define our goodness.
BORIS HAS NO CONFIDENCE
RSVP
Boris (01/15, 6:26PM)
“And I fear, when I hear the slogans and see the faces of those who regularly turn out for ‘Days of Action,’ that I have no confidence in their ability to recognize the threat.”
Well, here’s another bit of off-topic, self-regarding posturing from the resident egomaniac. We all have to realize that the real issue is not about “Big bang bullshit” but rather what’s going on in Boris’ expansive, all-embracing ego in respect to Bill C51. We all have to realize, in other words, that the real issue here is not Bill C51 itself but rather that he has no confidence in those who turn out to protest it. But, hey don’t forget, he doesn’t endorse Bill 51 either.
Another bit of self-absorbed pirouetting.
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
It always gives me pause & makes me chuckle whenever I see people speak of the bible as the Word of God, with conviction that God said/wrote it..
Sure you’ll get the saner ones to reluctantly agree ‘God didn’t write it’ But men inspired by God wrote down his words & ideas to keep them & be able to bring these gems of god’s wisdom to others.
What makes me laugh is of course …where is this book, scroll ,tablet ?
Surely you aren’t referring to the King James bible ? For that matter any modern text is so heavily edited, & draws on so many sources written hundreds even thousand + years after the supposed Jesus ever existed. The so called Christian religion aka Catholicism didn’t even come into existence until the beginning of the 3rd century AD. By order of a Roman Emperor (Constantine) & he wasn’t a christian…until his death , although there is conflict there, it seems they may have declared his belief in Jesus for him, after he died, but I digress.
He must have been ordered to by god, unfortunately no record of that has survived either ~;)
Face facts Lad’s & Lasses all of the so called religious texts out there, are simply works of fiction, with I will agree some real gems in them, like no stealing, we shouldn’t kill each other. …not that many people pay any attention to those suggestions, but they are In My Opinion some of the better ones.
But most of those writings are simply a way for those who are at the top of the hierarchy to control those lower down. When you go to Judaism, the old testament, that god is such a vindictive miserable Piece Of Shit, its no wonder there’s been newer versions & a rewrite. Hopefully before to long the Koran, will get a full rewrite, get those people out of the dark ages & have a kinder gentler view towards others, where it will then call for a little less death on the unbelievers & a little more, acceptance & tolerance for others.
But I’m not holding my breath, because I know until Governments makes it a crime to practice religion anywhere BUT in a house of worship AKA their clubhouse . the religious nuts of the world will rage & rally, & continue to attempt to push their mental delusions down the throats of everyone else, no matter if they have delusions of their own …or not .
Remember, grab a bottle of wine on the way home tonight , to have with your pasta…the Flying Spaghetti Monster loves you whether you believe in him or not…or is he a She ??? I don’t believe it really matters.
RSVP
More (03/17, 1:56PM)
“The so called Christian religion aka Catholocism didn’t even come into existence until the beginning of the 3rd century AD. By order of a Roman Emperor (Constantine) & he wasn’t a Christian until his death, etc. etc.”
Constantine declared Christianity was to be no longer persecuted in 312AD. That’s a fact. The rest of your comment is pure, unsupported hot blow. But it sounds like you had a good time laughing. I hope you enjoyed your plonk when you got home. Did you have spaghetti with it?